OverDrive - OverDrive - April 14, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: April 14, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! Golf Channel Commentator Steve Sands joins to discuss Rory McIlroy's Masters triumph, the green jacket win and achieving the career grand slam. TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston on Craig Berube's coaching philosophy entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Oilers' injury issues and Ivan Demidov's debut in Montreal and Bryan hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

Hey, who invited climate action to the party? We did! Hey, I'm Shannon Burns. And I'm Sarah Christie. Together, we host the Earth Day Party Podcast. Where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki.

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Jays back home, Braves in town. Braves have been struggling, man. Big opportunity for the Jays in the hour best bets later in the hours well jays back home braves in town bravesman struggling man big opportunity for the jays and uh... you've lotty five hundred million dollar contracts officially signed not the best update on mac scherzer today still feel some pain in that poman it is speaking another doctor but were rick bush would be our rick bush would that's rick bush with i there's an outside chance you don't see him again

i'm concerned about that i have to get the guy is not a young guy sure it's not like a little tweak in the back of his right knee or something it's is from that he throws with yeah didn't talk about how the thumb was affecting like that is what i'd like his ladder that cages like i did i think it's a miracle in blow up my lad. It's like, okay, but you didn't.

But that's like, hate to say this, Noodles, pitchers are like goalies, man. Pitchers are the goalies. They're just different. Unique people. I agree. Six bush lights, six bud light, and I love them, tall boys. They're just different beasts. We should have played the music for ross and

that's what we really thought would not be amazing ross you're playing the role of ross ackerman uh... and he said play it later because i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i ask him one day of can we guys you can play you want to play roleplay level of concern one day they went five in a row he's got to come on for level of concern level of concern I love that he actually knows the bit yeah that is good that is good and he heard about oh and Kitchener and I got a feeling there are some but he's behind the scene I think that one may have rung out I think the whole city got well got wind of that like I, I don't know where I was. I wasn't on the show when you told the story,

but my feed blew up. People were writing me saying, are you seeing this, what's going on? And I'm like, no, I have. So I had to go back and watch the clip. Well, Jonas, if you go back and watch Jonas, he is, he's mortified. Labyrinth-gusted.

Yes, he doesn't know what to say. He's disgusted. He is really sickened by the whole operation. He's like, why is this guy not eating nuts? Yeah, exactly. In Jonas's head, he's like, how is there a football in his stomach? Right. Jonas eats like he's got a rabbit's diet.

He eats like a rabbit. He eats like carrots and nuts and soil. Soil. He eats like I've watched Jonas, I'venone of them for over fifteen years and that guy has been the exact same weight his whole life yet any always will be like of fat jonas would be the most shocking thing i would ever see him for six months and he walked in and was and he was

two thirty because he's not a tall guy and he was to give you is two hundred thirty pounds i would be like that's not jonas Jonas. I would refuse to believe it was him. Well, his head would blow up too, right? Like, so you wouldn't recognize him. I don't think it's possible for him to blow up. It's not capable. Guys like that who are lean. It's not.

I know. It's a huge luxury, but you're right. His metabolism and stuff, it's impossible for him. He could do one of those stupid McDonald's things where every day he could have a double QP and 10 dogs and it would not affect him. It would never affect him. Remember that movie Super Size Me and the guy had to like the doctor shut him down like 25 days in it's like you're gonna die. Dude your organs are just fighting for their lives right now. Crazy. Yeah Jonas could he could comp- because he does have a very healthy diet and lifestyle he

runs he's athletic but if he just went the complete opposite and said I'm gonna try to blimp up I don't think he I'm not sure he could, but if he did it would be shocking to see. I played with guys, I played with a guy named Damon Lankow who literally could eat McDonald's every day of his life. He was like five percent body fat, like just shredded and now he worked out hard and he was, but I also believe he had a body type of metabolism it was like that's what it is happen yeah everyone knows what that one guy see like lancow was a professional athlete so he actually worked out like i used to work with a guy who was the most unhealthy human being on earth and he was 140 pounds yeah you know like it just

everything he ate was awful he He smoked a ton of weed, boozed all the time. It was a disaster. And this guy was like, Lee. And it just, he probably went for checkups and they're like, you are the pillar of health. Yeah. I have no idea how, but you are the pillar of health. Crazy. Anyway, the Overdrive PJ picks brought to you by TaylorMade. When you need more performance, distance and speed from your golf ball. It's time to switch. Switch to the ball Rory McIlroy uses. McIlroy just won a career Grand Slam. Learn more about the all new TP5 and TP5X at TaylorMadeGolf.ca. So the O-Dog takes down the first major. Now, a little bit greasy because we didn't flip a coin or anything. He was like I want more

yeah Rory McElroy. I'm like alright I guess I'll take Scheffler. You were in full agreement. I said you want Scheffler you can go ahead and have him because you know who's my guy this year? Rory McElroy. My whole list was loaded with guys up on that leader board. Bryson DeChambeau. You had Rory and Bryson. You yet zander who had a great i thought i think zander but no you did any of the big that's like that's you you had a you had a great tournament about it i think i said what about the duds i put in front of you that they were they were as they

were horrendous as it goes back to one comment and it's not like everybody can make a comment once in a while but it's kinda when you get to that tournament There's six guys that can win man it yeah It kind of feels that way like it's good everyone talks about Cory Connors a ball striking ball striking balls If you're not moving the rock 300 plus you might scratch them off the list like I'm sorry yeah I'm off the list yeah It's it is a it's a Bombers paradise, like it is. And listen, you gotta have magic

around the greens and you gotta hit shots and you gotta go for it. You gotta, like you gotta eagle. Like dude, that McElroy, seven iron on 50, there was probably good players that hit it very decent that were hitting five woods into that. And that guy was hitting a seven iron around the tree. Yeah, exactly. And guys that would try to hit the same shot, they would have bailed out and flared it right here's our new hoodie right there yeah that's our hoodie we're positive thinkers positive thinkers yeah but yeah Rory playing the TP5 like out there rolling the spider pottery look great man it's and listen he's won at Pebble Beach Sawgrass and Augusta like he's won the AT&T at Pebble

he's won the players and he's won a go and the Masters and this year sets up so well for him with Quail Hollow up next the place he has torched he's won the AT&T at Pebble, he's won the players and he's won the Masters. And this year sets up so well for him with Quail Hollow up next, the place he has torched. He's got the course record at Quail Hollow. Oakmont is a Bombers pair, that's the same thing. When they get to the US Open, five guys can win that. Maybe six. And then he goes to Royal Port Rush, which is right around the corner from where he grew up.

And then they've got the Ryder Cup at Beth Page. Like this guy could have one of the all-time great seasons ever this year. Like if he runs off another major plus FedEx player of the year plus the Europeans beat the Americans on their soil, this will be one of the two or three greatest seasons maybe in golf history or close to it. It can go either way though. It can go either way. But it was magical yesterday, man. Watching that was one of the two or three greatest seasons maybe in golf history or close to either way. It can go either way, but it was magical yesterday, man. Watching that was one of the coolest sporting experiences of my life. I just, I couldn't get enough like the buildup and it was McElroy and he doubles the first

hole and then the playoff. Like I said, in the first 10 minutes, you would have thought that he choked it off with all the shots you guys were talking about. What about this one? What about chunk here? What about, and he still pulled it off. He pulled it off with all the the shots you guys were talking about what about this one what about chunk here what about and he still pulled it off he pulled it off he pulled it off and uh... the ratings are out for cbs uh... so jimmy train of sports illustrated tweet out that the masters drew twelve

point seven million viewers and from seven to seven fifteen p m which would have been the playoff nineteen point five million people watched those that's monster numbers huge like though those are almost twenty million people watched. That's monster numbers. Those are almost 20 million people tuning in. Those are massive numbers. One of my favorite tweets of the day was when somebody tweeted out, Man, hearing Jim Nance voice, it's going to be so sad in 12 years when he leaves. I know. 11 more years.

How are we going to survive with only 11 more years of Jim Nance? Who announces I'm done in 11 years? I know man, that's bold dude. You got to have some confidence in your game. And Jimmy Nance deserves it. He's the voice of the match. It's going to be strange without him. Like it will be. That guy, that'll be 50 years as him running the show for CBS. That'll be different for sure. But it was an incredible, incredible masters.

And again, the Overdrive PGA Picks brought to you by TaylorMade. When you need more performance, distance and speed from your golf ball, it's time to switch. Learn more about the all new TP5 and TP5X at TaylorMadeGolf.ca. Again, that ranks up there, 97, 19, 25.

Like that may be the greatest Masters I've ever experienced like in terms of what I'm gonna remember in the ups and downs and to chat more about it. We're joined now by a good friend, Steve Sands from the Gulf channel and NBC. Sands, I guess we'll start there. If you look back in the last 25, 30 years, where does this Masters in 2025 rank for you?

Oh man, it was a good one. You know, if you look at 75 with Nicholas Watson and Weisskopf, they consider that the best Masters ever. 97 clearly was great when Tiger won his first by 12, 86 Jack at 46 years of age, 2019 maybe. Tiger winning his fifth after a 14 year absence from winning at Augusta, but that one's got to be right there with him. I mean, a career grand slam, fellas, doesn't happen often. It's only the second time in 59 years that's ever happened. It's only the second time it's ever happened at Augusta.

And the last time was Gene Sarra's in in 1935. So it was a historic day, not the greatest golf at times, but not the worst either. And it was a drama-filled and it was phenomenal theater. Which of these three moments did you say Rory will not win the green jacket, Sanze? Was it the double on one? Was it the chunk trunk on thirteen or was it the flare in regulation on eighteen word or did you do it all three times where you just said this guy's just can't do this he can win this tournament

now i was i was thinking that after the double at one there's a lot of golf left yet a two-shot lead so it's not been tragic he was tied for the lead on the second tee instead of being two up. I thought there was a lot of golf left there made his way around, you know, started getting hot and played 13 the way he's supposed to play it. It a four shot lead, a five shot lead for a second there, but a four shot lead mainly. And then he chunked that wedge. And I was like, Hey, yeah, yeah, that was terrible. But I was like,

I was like, wow, he looked like us out there, you know? He looked like you guys spilling a Pepsi on your computer. You know what I'm saying? Dude, that was a crazy wedge, Sanze. He was 86 yards. Oh my God. Terrible. Terrible, he played it like a 28. He kept it, looked terrible there. And obviously one of the great players in the history

of the sport. Then he hits one of the greatest shots in the history of professional golf. Then he hits one of the greatest shots in the history of professional golf on 15 around the tree. Um, doesn't make the eagle putt, makes the birdie gathers himself. Nice shot on 16 for par makes two, two parts for par. And then 17 hits a stone cold wedge again, taps in for birdie and he's got a one shot lead and then he, Oh oh man that wedge on 18

in regulation shoved it into the bunker and I'm like oh my gosh when he stood over the putt at 18 in regulation I thought he's not making this it's gonna be a playoff but I never thought he was gonna lose I just thought he's not gonna make this there's gonna be a playoff and then once he got to the playoff and he hit that driver I thought he was in pretty good shape and they money that wedge to a few feet, made the putt. And now we were talking about it being master champion. I never really lost confidence that he was going to win, but it certainly wavered a few times throughout the day.

Yeah, it absolutely did. And I think the fact that Bryson played the way he played where he just, he never really showed up. He parred one, he birdied two, and then the wheels completely fell off. Yeah it was over. It was over at that point after he bogeyed three bogeyed four McElroy birdied both of those holes and it was billed really ever since the 18th hole on on Saturday okay this is Rory versus Bryson these are the two powerhouses this is the exact pairing you want going out last on Sunday that just never materialized and it turned into Rory versus Rory

In retrospect was that did that make for better theater theater watching McIlroy try to overcome this basically by himself as opposed to going blow for blow with Bryson How do you look back on that now? Well, I think it would have been amazing if it would have been both of them going toe-to-toe. I think people remember last year's US Open fellas but they don't remember that they didn't play in the same group. Bryson was behind Rory. Rory played in front of Bryson last year so now that they were head-to-head I think it would have been more fun if they went head-to-head and Bryson didn't fade but Bryson faded pretty quickly and that wasn't really a huge surprise and here's why. Great player,

world-class player but he was not playing well. His iron play all week was no good. He was putting out of his mind, he was chipping and pitching out of his mind and it was kind of smoke and mirrors for three days and in this sport in golf usually you can't do that over four days. That's why one of the biggest differences between the PGA tour and live is 72 holes is professional golf at the highest level, not 54. You've got to finish the job. You know, you can't just win a Stanley cup in the second period. You've got to go all three periods.

Sometimes you need to go into overtime, just like yesterday with McElroy. So it would have been cool if it was head to head, you know, they don't get along so great, you know, not that they hate each other, but there's a little bit of sports rub there, some gamesmanship on both sides, and they go about their business in opposite ways. And it would have been really cool if they would have been going blow to blow, but it didn't turn out that way, but somebody pushed Rory. Rory had to push himself a few times and it was an exciting Masters for sure. It was ups and downs the ebbs and flows it was as exciting a day at the Masters not the

best golf in the world all the time but as exciting a day at the Masters as we've seen it quite some time from start to finish. So Sansi what do you make of Bryson coming out and saying Rory didn't say a word to him all day? I mean, was that weird? Is that Bryson kind of being a little bit of a suck for lack of better words or or is that Rory being sportsmanship or sport? Gaming like you said or what do you make of that? I Love that You know look Bryson goes about his business not just differently than Rory, but everybody else He does however stand up at the podium and answer the writers questions

honestly and Rory stoned him. Rory had no interest in playing Kumbaya. Rory's one of the nicest kids you'll ever meet in your life. He's one of the easiest guys to play with. Well yesterday he decided to buckle down. No chatter, no talk, no looking around, no fist bumps, no high fives, and he just went about it with blinders on. Bryson likes to give high fives walking from green to T, likes to tip the cap, likes to put his hand behind his ear, get the crowd roaring. And I think that that is not why Bryson didn't win. But I do think that it was a bit of an odd dynamic for Bryson because he wasn't expecting that because Rory's never been like that. But he decided to take a different approach and it certainly worked. I don't

think Bryson was being a baby. I don't think he was being soft. I just think he was answering a question. And to be honest, I think he was answering a question and he couldn't believe that Rory went four and a half, five hours and not saying, we're dope. Sanzy, where does this put Rory? I I mean is he top 10 player of all time? It seems incredible that he's got the grand slam. Took him a bit, but where do you think it ranks him? Oh, I think he's on the cusp of the top 10. He's only 35. He's got a long way to go. Oh, yeah. If this greatness continues, he might end up being in the top five. I think right now he's between 15 and he's getting closer and closer to that top 10 if not already in it by now but I mean my gosh he's doing things he's Phil Mickelson okay he's a

top 10 player in the world. Now his body of work is complete Rurys is not. Rurys has five majors Phil has six but Rurys has the career Grand Slam Phil didn't get that he only won three of the four. Phil never was number one in the world. McElroy has spent plenty of time as number one in the world. Phil never won a FedEx cup. He won one players. Rory won two, and he's also won three FedEx cups and Phil never won one. So if Phil's in the top 10,

I think McElroy probably is right there or right on the cusp of it, right on the outside of it. But I think by the end of the day, when his body of work is complete like Phil's basically is, I think McElroy is going to be somewhere between four and nine over the course of his lifetime. He's just amazing. I mean, six times, six players have won the career grand slam guys. I was doing the math yesterday morning before our show. More men and women have won the career Grand Slam in tennis. The women's Grand Slam in golf has changed over the years from four events to five events. It's kind of convoluted. So if you count the men's game with the four majors against the only thing that's comparable which is

tennis and the men and women who have played tennis, there are more players on the women's side and the men's side individually who have won the Cray Grand Slam. So you can make a strong case, guys, that what Rory did yesterday is literally the single most difficult achievement in all of sports. So that alone has to put him in a category

in the top 10 in the history of the sport, since only six guys have done it. Sanzy, I think now because he's freed up, I mean, me and another member of this panel have had many conversations saying this guy's never going to win another major again because of all the setbacks. Now that he's got this under his belt and he can almost freewheel it where it's like, I got nothing to worry about anymore because for years it was like can this guy win again, win a major, win the big one?

He could win the FedEx Cup or he can win at Pebble Beach but I think he might circle around the track again on this. Like he might double up on the Grand Slam because I think he just doesn't care anymore or he won't, not that he won't care but he's just going to be freed up and the way he's playing right now it might be the best he's ever played Best he's ever played best he's ever played coming into the Masters and he it looked a little shaky at times But he closed the deal. That's the most important thing and The next major championship fellas when we chat again in four weeks at Charlotte at Quail Hollow. He's won there twice

He loves that golf course and now that he has the burden lifted and now that he has that heavy weight off of his shoulders, this could be a lookout moment. He's only 35. It's not like this is like a 42, 43 year old just getting that last one on his mantle. He's going to have a lot of opportunities. He could very well go on a big time run. I'm not not saying he's going to but he very well could because of exactly what you said He has a freedom now that he did not have prior to this past week with Steve Sands Yeah, it does feel like a fork in the road. Like it was an Unbelievable accomplishment. I said he almost threw it away 15 times and then five minutes afterwards It's he's gonna get the slam this year because he loves quail hollow and it's going to port rush

It's in Northern Ireland and he's and we're going to Oakmont I think it is and that's a Bombers paradise and it's amazing how him Making that three-foot putt in the playoff the three foot putt he missed that pine hearst a year ago twice All of a sudden has spiraled us into this conversation where it's like this guy's never gonna lose and I I do think there could that could spin both ways. I think you might you might be right oh it may be so freeing this guy goes watch out watch me play or it could be I'm done now I did it. Like it's cuz Shane Lowry said right after he won the Masters yesterday right right after Rory came off the green,

he said, all this guy's talked about for 10 years is I need a green jacket and then I can retire happy. There is a chance it goes the other way. I'm not rooting for that, but you do have to open the door to the fact that maybe he accomplished all he was trying to accomplish, and that's it. And if it is, it's still an all-time great career.

But he went 11 years in between majors and now we're handing four five six seven more out because he closed at Augusta I think that might be pushing it a little bit Sansi I agree I totally agree I think you can go one way or the other if two things can be true at once I think this either frees them up and he goes and wins a bunch more or he just says, you know what, I've done all I can do and thank you very much. But he's only 35. He's uber competitive beyond belief, competitiveness and competitive. And I think he wants to be all time great. And I know that this puts him in a category of being all-time great but you

know five is not enough. Bill won six, Arnie won seven, Tom Watson won eight, you know Gary Player won nine. I think Rory desperately wants to get into that category. Only a few guys have won ten or more. He's only won five and he hasn't won one from the age of 30, 24 to 34. Now he's 35. So if he did not do great in his reval prime in those ages, perhaps there's a second prime for Rory. We'll have to wait and see, but I don't think the motivation is going to go away anytime soon whatsoever. I think Rory has a desire, a burning desire to be all-time

great and I think now he has a little bit of freedom. Whether that comes with more major championships we'll have to wait and see but he certainly is not going to work any less. He's not going to work out any fewer times. He's not going to work on his game and his mind any less than he has leading up to this point so I think the freedom to be able to just go play I think is going to be really really magical for Macalride. Sanzi quickly before we wrap up here are you concerned about your caps going into the playoffs bit of a rocky road right now thoughts?

Oh stop yourself what's the matter with you? The number one Steve, a couple things, I'm glad you brought this up. They're the number one seed, they're not the President's trophy winner, thank God. And I can't stand winning a President's trophy. And the number one seed, they've lost a couple of games in a row to Columbus. That's because of, think about what just took place. They sewed up the number one seed they've lost a couple of games in a road at Columbus that's because of think about what just took place they sewed up the number one seed. Sanze it doesn't matter man. It's ugly. I've got a stat for Sanze. Okay what do you have? I believe I mean watching that game last night I thought I saw that they said they've given up three goals or more in eleven straight game while san c not good way we gotta go ahead and i i i still have the little hands and i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i i sixty seven uncalled for take it easy on the chop your bus in here come on

of etchkin and the caps are going to go into the playoffs perhaps not as sharp as they were i think they're gearing up towards this weekend whenever game one is on saturday and sunday and i've been caps whether they make a deep run or not who knows but you gotta have some punk luck but they'll be ready they'll be okay they'll be ready a weird weird it's been a weird month for them you got to admit that I'm all kidding aside absolutely

get this record of trying to get it in tune it's been a strange month for the caps and I think they're gonna be just fine yeah I think you're right they're gonna be in the driver's seat that is for. And you mentioned 67 the McElroy of the NHL is the Maple Leafs. Everyone knows it. And when you consider what Rory just did, I think a lot of people are starting to connect the dots up here. So enjoy yourself the next few weeks, Sanzy. Enjoy the first round for the Caps. We'll catch up before we get to Quail Hollow and the PGA. And great stuff is always live from down at Augusta. Thank you for doing this. My pleasure fellas. Love you guys and by

the way let's see who's playing in four weeks if the Maple Leafs or the Capsule. Bring it! We'll call you then, Sanzee. We'll call you then. Please do. Let's make a deep run fellas, both of us. Let's get to the championship. Let's get to the Eastern Conference Championship and let's get going here. Come on! I love it. And you know what? The cup final will be right around the RBC Canadian Open. We'll all get together and we'll watch. And maybe it's the Cavs, maybe it's the Leafs, maybe it'll be the Conference final at that point. Leafs versus Cavs, worlds are colliding. It's going to be brilliant. Thank you, Sanze. Appreciate it. From your lips to the hockey god's ears.

Take care fellas. Yeah, that would be quite the scene up at TPC. He had Leafs caps in a conference final, but yeah, he's a big Washington sports fan and Capitals have been leaking some oil down the stretch, but they've also known where they're going. Yeah, I think they're kind of mailing it in. It it is just like get the season over with I Carolina the same thing they're like we know we're playing Jersey let's go yeah I think there are

teams that are just kind of almost playing to not get heard and just kind of hey just getting going through it yeah you just gotta hope they respond and like yeah yeah you return to what you I agree what your team is I also think too If you look at Washington, they had a huge like their huge point was Ovi going through it now He gets that gets it you had to know there would be a drop-off Like there's just been a drop-off of like, okay, we got him his goals. Okay, let's refocus here. I think Carberry I mean You want to do this Wednesday, go through some like awards and all that. Remember, so I got emailed, I've got to be in on this. Okay. And I like it. Whiteboard,

whiteboard, whiteboard. I think we got to, no, I'm going to be on the road on Wednesday, but I'll do it in my hotel room. Happily. Whiteboard or whatever. Oh, we'll run a tour. But I think there's, I'm going to need some help on the coach of the year. I think Carberry is my number one. Yes. Oh yeah. But I, you know. Scott Arneal I think has gotta be pretty high. Scott Arneal was my number two, but I think there's some guys at three that I really, I've got a pack of 10. Travis Green,

Marty St. Louis. Travis Green's my three, Marty St. Louis. I got Ryan Huska right up there with those two guys. Oh man, if the flames get in. Dude, that's a hell of a job for Ryan Huska, my guy out in Calgary. Yeah, you've done a great job. That's a very good point. But I have him on the list if the flames get in. That's a hell of a job for Ryan Huska, my guy out in Calgary. Yeah, they've done a great job. That's a very good point. But I have him on the list if the flames get in. So let's revisit on Wednesday. We're doing it. We're running through everything.

I love it. All right, Chris Johnston coming up with some updates. What's up with Jake McCabe? What's up with Oliver Ekman-Larson? What's up with all these oilers' injuries and how do they possibly survive? Best bet still to come as well overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN to Who invited climate action to the party? We did. Hey, I'm Shannon burns and I'm Sarah Christie together We host the Earth Day Party podcast where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion, to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki.

This is a party where everyone is invited. The Earth Day Party Podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. All right, Best Bets coming up powered by FanDuel. Blue Jays in action tonight. We got a big one at the Bell Center because the Montreal Canadiens can clinch their playoff spot tonight, right? They pick up a win tonight. It's over and Ivan Demidov is making his debut, which I think this is the right play

I wanted to see him play on Saturday night even Friday in Ottawa, but save the debut for the Bell Center Save it for Montreal. Well time change. Oh the guy was literally just save the debut for the Bell Center. Save it for Montreal. Time change. The guy was literally just on the plane on the bird. Was it Friday? He flew in I think on Thursday. I think he was there and he wasn't in Ottawa I don't believe for when they played the Sens and then he waited for them when they got to Toronto on Friday night. But there's a lot of hype for this kid man i i don't recall a scene like this in a long long time you know player coming up of this status that's really a great unknown but he's got a lot of talent a lot of hype and when's the last time you could think of

a guy was like had this much hype but but we don't know a lot about that's the thing like watch like his my generation was Lindros right like and you know when i played his and that's not eric he's's definitely not Lindros but Russia's hasn't been in the world juniors either. Right. So that's another thing you haven't been able to see him playing the world juniors. I understand he's not Lindros I'm just talking hype. I hear you. Exactly it's like Lindros and Sid and Ovi and David. He's a layer below that but don't don't tell that to people in Montreal. They're jacked as they should be. Here's Chris Johnston our TSN hockey insider. What do you think

will be the bigger story tonight? Is it Damidov just playing or the fact that a playoff spot is on the line for the Habs? Weirdly I'm leaning Damidov on this one you know and part of that probably is because you know the Canadians have had their hands pretty close to that playoff spot for a while. It's not yet totally in doubt. Although man, if they lose tonight, it gets pretty interesting because they only have one game left on their own schedule. Columbus beat Washington twice over the weekend.

It could get a little nervy when it comes to the playoff situation. But at this point, I do think the excitement, the hype, everything that this demidov is gonna bring to the game is probably the main headline, at least entering the night. And I'm with you, I think it's great that their fans are excited, but it was a little weird how many people were at Pearson

waiting for them to arrive. I found it veered into the bizarre there for me, but in general I get, I'm excited to see him play myself But there was no reason to give him the petting zoo treatment a few days ago Well, I mean, welcome to Canada and welcome to the Habs. Exactly. Didn't we track Babcock's plane here? Like there's there's been some things in this like in Canada, here Kauai, Kauai got a tracking. Kauai had a big tracking. And then this just isn't reserved just for Toronto or Montreal Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada, city yeah that's what makes this so unique like have stands were on the way to pierce in in its inch long i originally thought those for those images

blame me for a trial yeah i thought it was a guy's in my now that was in toronto i'm like what on or if you and you know what the cost of parking pierced into a good deal about how the holiday guys and i i would have if my if it was tiger woods and i wanted to go see him when he's every like a salary gonna find this guy but these people just figure it out man i don't know how they do it it's creepy as hell

well i think in the canadian tried to disguise when and where he was arrived into it so that they did it not with the team's help in any way found a way to discover his whereabouts and they were there and he's in action tonight. We're seeing him warm up right now. I'm sure he was the first one out. That's just like standard practice now in the end. Which was the guy, the Dragon's Den guy?

Was that Shohei? Robert Hercevik. Hercevik. I know but I didn't. Yeah, that was for Otani. Wasn't Otani supposed to be on his way here? We thought it was Otani, but it turns out it was a Dragon's Den guy. That one's stunning.

At least it's through this city. Yeah, he was on his way to Toronto. Like you said though, that's Montreal fans coming to Toronto to wait for the guy. That's the most deep part about it. That's a completely different level of fandom. Now there's a lot of Habs fans that live in the greater Toronto area I'm not I'm not convinced those were you know people that live in Laval that made the way down here right it's local people they may have been from here that are

just freakishly you know excited for this kid but yeah it's I mean we're and we're getting closer to the Battle of Ontario and the Leafs that was a really impressive weekend for them wasn't it CJ? Yeah it's funny I mean I know why we're here we've all been in the market for a long time and you know everything that's gone on in the prior playoff seasons but Toronto's 17-6 and 2 since four nations they have the second most points in the league you know over the last two months and I've just not heard anyone get too excited about it and as I say I can understand why that is.

There's definitely an attitude of, you know, let's see it in the playoffs. Let's, let's have a playoff run before anyone, you know, gets too excited. But, you know, I think the Leafs really have put themselves in a nice spot here. Um, you know, the Atlantic is, is right in their fingers. I mean, they need one point or they need Tampa to lose a point and over this final two games to set up that battle of Ontario and well by no means When am I dismissing the senators or think it'll be easy? I just think that's that's obviously a more favorable matchup than playing one of the Florida teams that have

You know rosters dotted with guys that have gone to the cup final and you know been through some of those battles and frankly I've had some success against the Leafs I think you know getting a through some of those battles and frankly have had some success against the Leafs. I think, you know, getting a team like Ottawa is probably as good as you can hope for if you're on the Leafs end of things and they've set themselves up nicely with this winning run for the last few months. Yeah, they have been on fire. Like they're peaking, man. I think they're playing their best hockey. They're in a very good position. And we mentioned Craig Barube's role in this, that this is why he's here. Like this is when it starts for him because Sheldon Keefe got them to the playoffs every year.

Mike Babcock got them to the playoffs pretty much every year. The expectation was the playoffs, but this is where he is supposed to have a different effect on this team. Is there anything that leads you to believe he is going to have a different approach? Or what makes you think being around Craig Barube, being around the team, what makes you believe he's prepared for this

moment? Because this is when the clock really starts for Barube in Toronto. Well, I haven't seen his pulse go up too often since he's been here, you know, at least publicly, I feel like he's a pretty steady coach. And I think that's, that's probably the sort of thing the Leafs need at this point in time. I mean, I'm thinking yesterday, I know it's a weird thing to draw maybe, but watching Rory's round and all the ups and downs, right? I mean, any team that goes through the playoffs is going to have things go wrong. There's going to be the equivalent of those bogeys or dumping it in the creek on 13 and

you still got to find a way to push forward. And this isn't necessarily a comment on Keefe or Babcock before that. I mean, I think that those were different versions of the Leafs, but I think that what they have to find to stretch this into a longer playoff run than they've had is a way to navigate some of those tough situations because obviously the temperature gets pretty hot

around here pretty quickly and they've dug some holes. And I look at last year's series falling behind three-one right out of the gate. Obviously some mistimed injuries there with Matthews and Nyland are missing those games early on in that series. But I just feel as though Berube doesn't put his foot in his mouth with the media. It doesn't really give us storylines in that manner. And I just don't think that anything's going to happen whether it's an injury situation, a blown call, or anything like that that's going to see him veer

from his planet. I think if somehow that can feed through the dressing room, I think the Leafs have a better chance to push through. Because let's face it, winning the company's heart, and the Leafs have had trouble enough winning just one series over these last eight years. And I do think they needed a different voice there and you know we'll see if it works now that the spotlights are about to go up.

CJ you said in reference to Borube you know why he was here and you know why there's kind of a tempered expectation with what's happened with the Maple Leafs in the past. If there was one player that Craig Borube could have a positive impact or it go different for them in the playoffs Who would you suspect that would be? You know, I think you got to look at Marner for that one I mean, he's had such a great year this year, you know right on the precipice of a hundred points and You know, you've seen him come through in some big moments. He scored the overtime goal on Saturday.

You know, I think he's been a real rock for the Leafs through this season and, you know, had some really nice moments with Team Canada at the Four Nations. And so I think if you could, you know, find a way to keep him in the right mind frame and just pushing through, because, you know, we know it's going to be tough. It's not, you know, the one thing that won't change a playoff start and all of a sudden all the room out there goes away all the sort of prime scoring opportunities disappear for the players that are under a lot of pressure to put up points and goals and you know I do think that you know that he's someone

that can can benefit from having chiefs there. And honestly, I just think that it's gonna be a different feel in general around the group. So, I mean, that's the best case scenario. Clearly this team, I think, they've rebuilt the blue line, that the goal-tending has been much better across an entire season than the Leafs have had in a lot of the recent years.

I mean, no guarantees, of course, you start game one and everyone gets zeros in their stats columns again, and something that's actually gonna be replicated. But I just think that the Leafs are in a better space in a lot of ways entering this playoffs. And I think that the Borube will have a different effect on them ultimately when they get into those moments.

CJ, we've seen some injuries around the league. I mean, you know, and you look at the Leafs, even their back end, Ekman Larson, McCabe, you know, any updates on that. And then you start to look around, Edmonton's banged up, you look at Colorado, there's some question marks. Have you seen, I mean, these are some significant injuries down the stretch. I can't remember a season where there's been a lot more question marks. Maybe it's just more Canadian flavor, but I can't remember a time around the playoffs

where we've seen this many injuries this close to playoffs. Yeah, and you know, Edmonton's situation seems, you know, the most difficult just because it's not just this week. I mean, it's going back several weeks now where they've had a lot of their tough guys in and out, you know, losing at home now for at least the first round is, is Chris Knobloch announced today. Clearly a big blow. I mean, if there's an area of concern, I'd say for Edmonton, it's their ability to defend

and at times, you know, goaltending is an extension of that, but their defensive play will call it. And that's, you know, their, their most relied and trusted defensive player. That's not going to be available for the first round in addition to the fact that Dry Cytl and McDavid, while it appears they're going to play, we just don't know what percentage, what version of them we're going to get in these playoffs. So you're right, that feels like a really significant one and there's a number of players elsewhere too. Fortunately for Leafs, obviously with McCabe in particular, I don't think

he's been skating. I think really they're just being mindful and smart about his return to play but no reason to think he won't be around for the playoff time and that's what makes these last couple games especially hard probably to watch from the press box. I mean obviously the Leafs are going to go out there focused on winning in Buffalo tomorrow to secure that Atlantic division to make it so that it's 100% in the bag and then we'll see what decisions they make if they manage to do that before their final game because you don't want to be losing any of your top guys at this stage. With Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. So the Winnipeg Jets wrap up the president's trophy. Are you a believer in the president's trophy curse?

In other words, generally speaking, a team that wins it does not end up winning the Stanley Cup. Hasn't happened since 2013, I think it was. Where do you stand on that, CJ? Yeah, I mean, it's hard to deny the numbers, right? It's just just over time I don't know if it's a curse or if it's a sign that the playoffs are different than the regular season and a little bit more random but you know it's it's very difficult to go wire to wire only a select number of teams have done it in sort of we'll call it a modern era of the

league and you know I think it'll be tough for Winnipeg. I mean, look, it's probably not gonna be easy for them in round one. We're still waiting to see exactly who they'll play with the wild card situation. The Western Conference is still up for grabs. But even if they get through that series, then they're right into Colorado or Dallas in round two.

And so, I think it's a big feather in the organization's cap. I don't think too many of us recalling a Jets President's Trophy win back in September or October. They've pretty much been at the top of the league all year long. But when you start fresh, it is a different kind of ball game. I do think the Jets have a chance to go on a run here, but it's going to be tough to come out of the central division for any of those teams, you know, whether we're talking the Avalanche of Stars or the Jets.

All right, CJ, final week, man, and then it's go time. Any word on the scheduling of the Stanley Cup playoffs? You hearing anything in terms of when it could start, when the Leafs could start? What's going on out there? Yeah, we're expecting Leafs Sunday, Tuesday to start. So that means by the time if we do our hit as scheduled normally on Monday next week, they'll have already played game one. That's how crazy this is. Obviously the playoffs themselves get going Saturday.

I think you'll see Edmonton play that night. I think Montreal might not go until Monday for game one. Okay, there you go. Thank you, CJ. Appreciate it. Okay guys, be well. Chris Johnston, our TSN hockey insider. Yeah that I always figured Leafs and Habs would be on opposite nights. Yeah. That's that's what the TV companies the rights holders are gonna want that you want Toronto Montreal going back and

forth you don't want them playing at the same time and then you got to figure out Edmonton Winnipeg. Right you want them probably flip too right so if you got it if it's Montreal Edmonton then I would guess Winnipeg probably starts Sunday night yeah late the late game yes you got wants and the hippie you can't get it all can't get everything right now can't get everything perfect but I think if you're a Canadian you're hoping for Leafs into Jets Habs into Oilers dude like that's Calgary sneaks in well they but they might play Winnipeg Oh, then you could have you could have that but you're right if Calgary's in and that change

I guess you got to figure that out. I'm sure you guys have buddies that go like Playoff hockey is like bar nights and people Big time and big patios right cuz the patio start opening up but there you know bar like bar dudes were like if there's a kid it's like oh they play every other night it's back at like they put in work absolutely I remember like and that was what sucked not to dig up you know old kind of ghosts of the past yeah but like when the Leafs didn't make the playoffs for that many years, those were like my 20s. That was my, hey, let's get together and go

watch the Leafs. And I remember I'd still go out, but it would be watching the Habs play or it would be, you know, a random US series. I'm not invested in this. Exactly. Exactly. It's like, hey, the Rangers are playing tonight. I'm like, yeah, I'll go, but I'm not like in this exactly exactly it's like hey the Rangers are playing tonight I'm like yeah I'll go but I'm not like dying to see that not as invested yeah I mean that's just the fact of the matter is if the Leafs are playing it's different and then if you have Canadian teams on top of it I'll tell you what'll get more juices going Battle of Ontario yes I cannot wait and it is gonna be nostalgic like it is gonna be a very nostalgic vibe Because like from 99 up until oh four

How many times did they play each other four times? Yeah four times in five years Like it was just constant man battle of Ontario every single year and they were like bloodbaths So there were some wars man yeah, there were some great series like injuries and heroics on both sides and ot winners and um again the Leafs were 4-0 but it's been 20 years it's a completely different cast of characters now yeah completely different um all right best buds coming up overdrive continues tsn 1050 and on tsn 2. Hey who invited climate action to the party? We did. Hey, I'm Shannon Burns.

And I'm Sarah Christie. Together, we host the Earth Day Party Podcast, where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion, to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki.

This is a party where everyone is invited. The Earth Day Party Podcast on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. All right. Today's Best Bets powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Haves are minus three tenths and I, it's a big number. I mean, you know. Well, Chicago is where they are. That's the thing. And sorry about those two guys, fellas. I didn't know that they played in Chicago and they said, see you later. Not playing anymore. Yeah, they're not even playing. Maroon's not playing. They didn't even go.

I know they're not playing, but if they could still be on the trip, how does this person who tweeted at us go, they're not on the trip? Is he on the team? They could be in Montreal. I guarantee you they're on the trip. I'll bet you they're there. That's probably why they're not on the trip is he is he on the team they could be here they're on the I'll bet you they're there so I that's probably why they're not playing exactly we're in Montreal it's Adios and we'll see you boys on the trip like I would be Patty maroon is an old good old he's gonna be in Montreal in Montreal haves money line Ivan demidoff three-plus shots on goal tonight I'm buying into the hype damn it off I think he's gonna be playing off adrenaline tonight I'm very curious to see how he plays. You know, I don't want him to be like, you see him in practice. It's between the legs.

Like just don't play. Don't be Yakapov. Yeah, just exactly. Go out there and work and play hard and battle. He was Nail Yakapov. Remember that guy? Oh yeah. The hockey news can't find this guy. Oh, he's gone. Does he still play hockey? That's a great question. I would assume he does. Probably in the K uh... but that that parlay pan plus two sixty today's best bets powered by fando live same game parlors are now available for every nhl game

the fandol sportsbook app please play responsibly nineteen plus physically located in on that a good season is he playing in unsk yet i'm back here is a thirty eight points in forty three games get them back yet in back someone Get him back. So I'm gonna lock him in. 31 years old now.

All right. Seems like he's still 20 to me. But that was a long time ago. That's the thing, man. How old is he? 31. That's 15 years ago he got drafted. That can't be right.

He was drafted in 2012. Or 31, so it would have been 13 years ago. Wow. Yeah. 13 years. Scored 17 goals as like a... As a rookie was pretty good man. He did have a really good like immediate impact but that was it.

Alright, thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciated everyone for tuning in. TV, radio, podcast, web, we appreciate that. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back tomorrow at... Azee, shout out to Perry Sound.

Love Perry Sound. Always have. Poor PM. We'll chat then. of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion, to getting a prescription to spend time in nature. Plus, we hear from David Suzuki. This is a party where everyone is invited. The Earth Day Party Podcast on the iHeartRadio app

or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.